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BUFFER_LOADER

Below is an example of the BUFFER_LOADER block:

[BUFFER_LOADER]
NUM_BUFFER_LOADERS = 1
BL01 = BL_LION

[BL_LION]
DEVICE = LION
TYPE = USB # Set TYPE = FILE to post-process capture files.
FRONT_ENDS = LION LION_L5

The BUFFER_LOADER block contains all of the following configuration parameters:

NUM_BUFFER_LOADERS​

Default: None
Parameter Class: Structural Configuration
Technical Info: Number of buffer loader configurations defined in the [BUFFER_LOADER] block. A buffer loader is responsible for reading samples from a file or USB stream and filling the raw data buffers in PpRx.
Practical Tuning Info: For RadioLion, set this to 1. Use additional buffer loaders only when a receiver has multiple independent sample sources that must be read separately.

BL01, BL02, …​

Default: None
Parameter Class: Structural Configuration
Technical Info: Ordered names of the buffer-loader configuration sections. Each BL## value must match a corresponding config block, such as BL_LION, which defines the loader TYPE, DEVICE, and the FRONT_ENDS it feeds.
Practical Tuning Info: For RadioLion, use only BL01 = BL_LION, and then configure [BL_LION] with the parameters below. Most front-ends should only have one buffer loader, assuming RF data is coming from a single file or USB stream.

Each BL## entry points to a named buffer-loader section, which each have the parameters below. In the example above, BL01 = BL_LION, so that .config file must contain a [BL_LION] block with the following parameters:

DEVICE​

Default: GENERIC
Parameter Class: Operational Configuration
Technical Info: Identifies the bitpacking format used by this buffer loader.
Practical Tuning Info: For RadioLion, DEVICE = LION must be used. For front-ends not outputting data in the LION format, in general use DEVICE = GENERIC.

TYPE​

Default: FILE
Parameter Class: Operational Configuration
Options:

  • FILE
  • USB

Technical Info: Selects the input source type for this buffer loader. FILE reads samples from an input file or named pipe, while USB reads from a live USB stream.
Practical Tuning Info: Use USB for live RadioLion operation, and FILE for any playback of captured data.

FRONT_ENDS​

Default: None
Parameter Class: Structural Configuration
Technical Info: List of front-end configuration sections fed by this buffer loader. Each name should correspond to a front-end section defined by FE01, FE02, etc., such as LION or LION_L5.
Practical Tuning Info: For RadioLion, use FRONT_ENDS = LION LION_L5, so one loader feeds both the L1/L2 and L5 front-end configurations.